Posted by Mick Charity on 23/11/2018 03:23:11:Now in its 12th edition the book contains a challenge to anyone who can disprove any fact contained within it for a prize of $100 000, which is as yet unclaimed.

Sorry...hemp IS cannabis,they are all part of the Cannabaceae family (Like onions and garlic all being different but still all types of allium)Cannabis used for narcotics are chosen for their higher potential to produce THC and are cross bred to increase this trait further...resulting in unnaturally high levels of THC. Hemp has been developed in the same way, just with an effort to reduce the amount of THC, and increase the growth rate and internodal length for longer fibres. I don't believe its "evil" in anyway in any form.

If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation; then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil, and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time... and that substance is -- the same one that did it all before -- Cannabis Hemp... Marijuana!

Now in its 12th edition the book contains a challenge to anyone who can disprove any fact contained within it for a prize of $100 000, which is as yet unclaimed.

Strange, as I suspect there are several other crops that could meet that claim (such as the rare crop known as 'trees' - and yes, properly managed forests are the best cure for deforestation). I strongly suspect the enthusiasm for all the 'miracle properties' of hemp is a trojan horse and irrelevant to very valid arguments about its medicinal properties.

Incidentally, Henry VIII may have required the growing of hemp to produce ropes and fibres, but he subsequently had to introduce one of the first anti-pollution laws to control the unpleasant consequences of hemp processing so it is hardly 'pollution free'.

But I don't want this forum to home a debate on the pros and cons of what still remains a controlled drug in the UK; the medicinal properties of CBD are different.

If you are of the opinion that Cannabis is purely an evil narcotic intoxicant & its widespread use will lead to the downfall of society as we know it then you are very very much mistaken.

...

Although I don't think Cannabis is pure evil, there is surely cause for concern? If a mind-altering chemical is available, some people will abuse it. Perhaps a lot of people. We already have two legal drugs and both have seriously bad side-effects:

Alcohol - Causes everything from accidents to Delirium Tremens and Pancreatic Cancer. Addictive and a common cause of broken families and street violence.

Tobacco - Nicotine is wonderful, it reduces anxiety and improves concentration. It's also almost impossible to give up (more addictive than Heroin!), poisonous, and causes severe heart-lung issues, including cancer, emphysema and other unpleasant ways to die.

If the negatives of drug taking only effected individuals, I wouldn't mind much. But alcoholics and drunks are a menace to us all, while smokers waste family money and then emotionally torture their loved ones by becoming seriously ill.

So I'm not keen to add a third source of trouble.

I may be a bit biased. Near where I worked in the 70's a toddler died after slipping upstairs and drinking the lodgers Methadone. Mum and dad had mellowed out with a joint and weren't paying attention...

Even though it can and does cause psychosis I don't believe Cannabis in it's original form to be particularly harmful. Not so Skunk and other high-yield varieties which are in a different league.

Legalising safer varieties would solve a lot of problems though and I think medical prescription of Cannabis components that don't cause a high should certainly be allowed. If some magic could be performed, I would willingly make Cannabis legal in exchange for a total ban on Alcohol and Tobacco. As it is, we're stuck with them.

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